How to Find Old High School Yearbooks

Between cross-country moves, fires, or other situations in life, it's easy for high school yearbooks to become lost over time. Replacing them can be challenging, but the Internet and e-mail are great resources to help you reach people quickly and easily. Take heart in knowing some students with older friends who graduated before them bought copies of their yearbooks as well as their own. Years later, they probably aren't as attached to them, and might be willing to part with them. This articles offers suggestions to help you replace your lost yearbook without unnecessary expense.

Instructions

1. Send a letter by e-mail or post to the newspaper in the town where you attended high school to let them know you're trying to locate a yearbook. Ask them to print your request in the hope that it will reach someone who has an extra copy of the yearbook. Include details such as town, year of graduation, your name and current mailing address. Also list an assurance of payment should a copy be available, the amount you'd be willing to pay for it, and any other pertinent information. If your hometown has other publications or a town website, consider those possibilities for advertising as well.

2. Call the office at the high school you attended to let them know you're seeking a copy of your yearbook. When families downsize, they're ready to relinquish belongings and looking for a home for memorabilia they don't want to throw out, such as yearbooks. A personal phone call is likely to receive more attention than a letter would.

3. Contact the alumni coordinator or corresponding secretary of your graduating class. Let her know you're interested in obtaining a copy of the yearbook. Word of mouth is your best asset in finding another copy. Letting her spread the news in publications and other mailings is a good way to get the word out to fellow graduates.

4. Look into online sources such as Classmates, eBay, or Craigslist. Putting out requests on those sites might turn up the yearbook you're searching for. Again, word of mouth is your best bet.

5. Contact the public library or private libraries in the town where you grew up and in surrounding areas. Libraries often receive donations of materials as people age, move away, or clean out. It's worth an inquiry to see if a copy of the yearbook you want is among the items they've received, but might not necessarily have room to keep.

6. Contact alumni magazines or historical societies in the region of the country where you grew up. They might have "Items Wanted" columns in which you could post your request. If they have an original, you might be able to make copies of pages of significance, or even the whole book, if you wish.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your imagination in leaving no stone unturned as you search for your old yearbook. Often collectible items, such as yearbooks, end up being stored in someone's attic until they see the light of day again.

Resources

• Resource for finding old high school yearbooks.
• Another source for yearbooks.